Vw t5 tuning

numbnuts · Apr 10, 2018

Hi guys
Looking to replace my current daily Passat with a vw t5, can anyone tell me about what is possible??
From what I've read not many people have pushed the engines much past 250hp, is there much difference in the engines to other tdis? How strong are the bottom ends?
Any info appreciated

Festa · Apr 11, 2018

Depends what engine size your referring too? I've been running close to 300bhp on my 2.5 5 pot

1.4TDI PD · Apr 11, 2018

Festa said:
Depends what engine size your referring too? I've been running close to 300bhp on my 2.5 5 pot

Hello how is your engine coping with the increased horsepower i have heard that the aluminium block is very fragile and that the cylinder head are weak as well. My dad owns a 2.5TDI multivan with 500000km and the engine is using about 1L of oil every 1000km.

martin33100 · Apr 11, 2018

There are now a few T5 2.5's in the UK running around 250-290hp.

adamss24 · Apr 11, 2018

The 2.5 tdi inline5 is not The most tuneable engine in the VAG stable and will break many times before reaching 300 Bhp ! Start with a 1.9 tdi or jump to the 2.0 CR Tdi if you want a reliable power plant. Better still, buy a late t4 multivan from Europe with the 150 Bhp VE Tdi engine, it will outlast any CR or PD lump !

bhodgkiss · Apr 11, 2018

Are you selling the Passat? Whats the spec these days?

1.4TDI PD · Apr 12, 2018

adamss24 said:
The 2.5 tdi inline5 is not The most tuneable engine in the VAG stable and will break many times before reaching 300 Bhp ! Start with a 1.9 tdi or jump to the 2.0 CR Tdi if you want a reliable power plant. Better still, buy a late t4 multivan from Europe with the 150 Bhp VE Tdi engine, it will outlast any CR or PD lump !

The old 2.5TDI VE engine is one of the best tdi engines ever built.

Festa · Apr 12, 2018

1.4TDI PD said:
Hello how is your engine coping with the increased horsepower i have heard that the aluminium block is very fragile and that the cylinder head are weak as well. My dad owns a 2.5TDI multivan with 500000km and the engine is using about 1L of oil every 1000km.

As said not the most reliable and not a lot of tuning options but it's just the sound track

I've just got mine back together again with internal mods but just waiting for the turbo to come back from a repair and hybrid session again. The earlier engines are still producing more power but the later engines are catching up with figures now between 260-290bhp as Martin has pointed out. Heads crack, injector bores have problems and the cranks split but whats not going to give up with 450-480 ftlb of torque.

1.4TDI PD · Apr 12, 2018

Festa said:
As said not the most reliable and not a lot of tuning options but it's just the sound track I've just got mine back together again with internal mods but just waiting for the turbo to come back from a repair and hybrid session again. The earlier engines are still producing more power but the later engines are catching up with figures now between 260-290bhp as Martin has pointed out. Heads crack, injector bores have problems and the cranks split but whats not going to give up with 450-480 ftlb of torque.

thanks for answering.

numbnuts · Apr 12, 2018

So Probably best to go for a 1.9 or 2.0 then? Are they different to a pd 1.9 then as they are strong enough to get decent power from

martin33100 · Apr 12, 2018

numbnuts said:
So Probably best to go for a 1.9 or 2.0 then? Are they different to a pd 1.9 then as they are strong enough to get decent power from

Depends how much you want to spend, the 2.5 doesn't need a lot of money spent on it to get to 260-280hp/ 600-650nm but the 1.9 and 2.0 will make more power but not without spending lots of money on them.

numbnuts · Apr 12, 2018

I'd be happy with 250hp with reliability, is this possible with the 2.5?
Would there be much difference in mpg between the 1.9 and 2.5?

adamss24 · Apr 12, 2018

1.4TDI PD said:
The old 2.5TDI VE engine is one of the best tdi engines ever built.

Yep, T5 5 cyl is bad, T4 5 cyl is good engine !

Zeitgeist · Apr 12, 2018

Pardon my ignorance, but is the newer fiver related to the gas engine used here in North America starting with the Mk5 cars? What's the engine code for the T5 fiver diesel?

Festa · Apr 12, 2018

Zeitgeist said:
Pardon my ignorance, but is the newer fiver related to the gas engine used here in North America starting with the Mk5 cars? What's the engine code for the T5 fiver diesel?

Engine codes are axd/axe and bnz/bpc similar to the touareg 2.5 5 cylinder but was transverse.
The earlier 5 pot was more reliable but now won't meet new low emmision zone limits for London.

martin33100 · Apr 12, 2018

This is the engine in question
https://vwpress.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/ssp-305-e.pdf

Zeitgeist · Apr 13, 2018

Wow, the gear train looks like a nightmare to service. I had no idea VAG was building engines like that for light duty vehicles. Thanks for posting!

Festa · Apr 14, 2018

Zeitgeist said:
Wow, the gear train looks like a nightmare to service. I had no idea VAG was building engines like that for light duty vehicles. Thanks for posting!

Gear train is a non serviceable item as they are the life of the engine. I had the auxiliary gear shaft break on mine and had to repair it, I sourced some second hand gears as the case hardening was damaged.

Vw t5 tuning

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